Scale frustration

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cdn1canhunt

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Hi having some frustration with powder scales, I have the lee safety scale and a hornady GS 1500 digital.
The digital is fast but it seems to drift endlessly, never seems to weigh the same charge the same repeatedly.
The safety scale is horribly slow to work with but seems consistent.

The 2 scales disagree with each other by appx 2 gains and I just find this unacceptable for accuracy and safety sake.

Which scale would you trust?
If neither what scale would you suggest?

I am hunting for a good quality scale for appx $100-150 bucks that I feel relatively confident in its accuracy to at least be consistent. I am leaning towards a balance beam scale after doing some online research. The digital just seem to unreliable unless mucho dollars are spent. I only reload to hunt and recreational shoot not for competition. So not high volume. Looking for other opinions and or experience.
 
I would recommend a Gempro 250. I use one, very consistent. One thing to keep in mind is that electronic scales need very "clean" power. A surge protector and no fluorescent lights are a good start. Personally, I turned the backlit display off and use batteries. I throw under-weight charges and trickle up, so they last a long time.
 
I have an old Ohaus 505 and think it's reliable.
The Lee Safety scale I'd smash with a hammer.
If all else fails, buy a set of calibrated weights and see for
sure which one is the grief kawser.

Just my nickels werth.
 
Electronic scales are great, but you need to know the limitations. We threw a bunch of 98 grain charges for my 7RUM and noticed the times varied a lot... We found the casses with varying amounts of powder... Over 10 grains different. Found out that you need to keep any cell phone or other device at LEAST 10 feet or more away as the interference somehow messes up the readings. The flourescent light ballasts would do the same thing!
 
RCBS 505 BUT the key is get yourself (if you don't already have them) a set of "scale check weights" - place the scale in a firm non slip surface then DON'T move it, then use the appropriate combination of wts to create a check for the exact charge you're "throwing". If you're after REAL accuracy set the powder measure about .1 grain under, then "dribble" powder into the pan for an EXACT powder charge.
 
Another vote for the 505 beam scale. I get an ES of 28fps within ten rounds tested, no complaints. I use a marked smk as my check weight to make sure the charge is always the same.
 
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I've had great experience with RCBS Chargemaster and Rangemaster ($119 at Cabelas US -$10MIR)
But I've always checked them with a beam scale.

If the digital scale is made of plastic, rubbing the pan tray with a dryer sheet would prevent static for a while.
 
Another thing is to make sure there are no air currents or drafts in the room.

The GS-1500 is useless since there is no way to turn off the auto shutoff therefore it cannot warm up and stabilize.

The RCBS Chargemaster 1500 electronic scale works very well however if I was paying $189.00 USD for it I would spend another $100.00 and get the RCBS Chargemaster combo with auto dispenser from Natchezss (I did).

For less money there is the GemPro 250 as was already mentioned and for even less the Jennings Mack 20.

Round the package off with a set of RCBS Check Weights and you're good to go.
 
Unless you are running very hot loads I'm not sure the check weights are needed for a balance type scale. The load you work up could be off the weight indicated and as long as you load on that same scale it wouldn't matter one bit. Just my two bits. I have used a bullet to check out of curiousity a time or two and they have always came up within what I'm sure is the manufacturing tolerances of the bullets.
 
Thanks red iron, I just did the same thing the lee scale seems to be accurate based off bullet weight. +or- .3 grains off the grain weight of the bullets I weighed. Which is close enough for the shooting I do. The GS-1500 however seems like a POS off by +3 or more full grains never reads the same twice and drifts horribly. I think will use the lee scale for the immediate time. I will definitely look for a better quality digital for quickness and just check it using the lee scale. Every 5-6 loads!
 
I use the lyman dpms 3 to dispense and the rcbs 505 to verify when there is any doubt. Also just picked up a lyman #55 measure a few days ago that seems to throw pretty good.
 
Balance beams are great but you need to know their limitations. Whatever scale you use you need to have a check weight to be sure they are weighing properly. I have always found digital scales to be more accurate than beams unless you have a scientific balance.
 
I would go with a beam, gravity always works.
If you drop a grain of powder into the pan and the beam doesn't move, you can go looking for the reason.
With a digital, you have no indication other than the display. Nothing but trust.
That's fine if you spend real money on a digital, but for anything under $150...?

There's nothing wrong with used reloading equipment, either.
If a scale isn't obviously horribly damaged, it's probably still pretty accurate.
From another thread:
Rory McCanuck said:
In order of preference;
RCBS 5-10: A joy to use, settles almost instantly. Micrometer poise.

Redding oil dampened(#1?): Small footprint, easy to set. I stop the pan swinging with my finger, I'm not in that much of a rush. 2 poise (like a 502)

Bonanza plastic beam scale: Uses a square plastic fan with 3 pour spouts. So sensitive you have to hold your breath. 2 poise (like a 502)

Lee Safety scale: Wow sensitive. Accurate. Fiddly; I had problems with it seating properly in the knife grooves. Vernier poise.

Hornady GS-1500: Digital, junk. Zero drifts, weight drifts, I don't trust it for anything critical.
Click to expand...
Basically, any beam is going to be nicer to use than your Lee.
It may not be any more accurate, though.
A set of check weights is nice for peace of mind.
 
I have a RCBS 505 that has not been working properly and RCBS is sending a set of bearing blocks to see if that fixes it. In the mean time I am getting a Hornady beam scale tomorrow and will see how it works compared to the 505.
I looked at the digital scales but just not sure about the cheap ones.
 
Reeferman said:
I have a RCBS 505 that has not been working properly and RCBS is sending a set of bearing blocks to see if that fixes it. In the mean time I am getting a Hornady beam scale tomorrow and will see how it works compared to the 505.
I looked at the digital scales but just not sure about the cheap ones.
Click to expand...

I've been using a Hornady 500gr beam for about 10 years now with no complaints... Works as advertised.
 
Battery powered scales are a pain because the battery voltage varies and a good balance beam scale is hard to beat. But the best upgrade I made after over 46 years of reloading was to get the RCBS ChargeMaster for speed and accuracy. If this is out of your price range then get a electronic scale that runs off a AC adapter for a constant voltage.
 
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